Show Preview | Plein Air & More Festival

Cannon Beach, OR
Various locations, June 27-29

Joachim Mcmillan, Bayside Harbor, oil, 18 x 24.

This story was featured in the June 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art June 2014 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story!

From June 27 to 29, the sixth annual Plein Air & More Festival is held in the beautiful seaside town of Cannon Beach, OR. Known for its breathtaking vistas, the town has a history of attracting artists and photographers and has been called one of the 100 best small art towns in the U.S.—so it was a logical choice to host a plein-air festival. “We are aware plein air is ‘en vogue’ now throughout most of the U.S., but it is still a relatively new genre here in the northwest,” says  Bonnie Gilchrist, marketing advisor for the Plein Air & More Festival. “What sets us apart from other plein-air events is the ‘& More.’ It is a limitless form that opens up possibilities for all things art in Cannon Beach.”

Artists create from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and visitors can find them spread throughout the town and on the beach, capturing the scenes around them in rain or shine. Galleries showcase their work at receptions on Saturday evening. A meet-and-greet reception is held on Friday starting at 5 p.m. in the community room of the Chamber of Commerce building, where visitors can interact with all 50 participating artists. “It’s a little different than most plein-air festivals in that it really encompasses more than people painting,” Gilchrist says. “We’re able to include a lot more artists who are doing everything from sculpting to stone carving and wood working. We really wanted to have all galleries involved and didn’t want to do anything that would eliminate any of the galleries from participating in the festival.”

Saturday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. all 13 participating galleries host free receptions with their artists and show the completed works from the weekend’s efforts. Participating artists from years past include Linda Prokop, Michael Orwick, Janis Ellison, Georgia Gerber, and Gretha Lindwood. “We’ve had a lot of people who told us that their kids got really turned on to art after coming to this event,”  Gilchrist says. “It’s a great family event.” —Joe Kovack

contact information
www.cbgallerygroup.com

Featured in the June 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art June 2014 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!